Tethered pinsetter device for toy bowling games

ABSTRACT

A pinsetter for toy bowling games comprising a table frame support with a plurality of leg members extending therefrom and a plurality of bowling pins with flexible means attached to each individual pin and guide means for the flexible means and means for moving the flexible means so as to raise the pin means from the surface on which they are disposed and thereafter to lower the pin means onto the surface to position them in an upright manner.

United States Patent [72] inventor Mortimer Lorber 1 $019,020 1/1962 Cohnv 273/44 5823 Osceola ROECI. Washington. D.C. FORElGN PATENTS 20016 [2H pp NO 765.144 251,676 9/1948 Switzerland l. 273/44 [221 Filed Oct. 4, 1968 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle [45] Patented June 22. 1971 Attorney-Berman, Davidson and Berman [54] TETHERED PINSETTER DEVICE FOR TOY BOWLING GAMES 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 273/44 [51] Int. Cl A63d 5/09 [50] Field of Search .4 273/44 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,440,013 4/1948 Laferriere 273/44 ABSTRACT: A pinsetter for toy bowling games comprising a table frame support with a plurality of leg members extending therefrom and a plurality of bowling pins with flexible means attached to each individual pin and guide means for the flexible means and means for moving the flexible means so as to raise the pin means from the surface on which they are disposed and thereafter to lower the pin means onto the surface to position them in an upright manner.

PATENTED JUN22 um SHEET 1 UF 2 FIG. .1.

I N V EN TOR. M02 77/14/5422 4 oeazse,

PATENTEnJnmmsn I 3.586.325

I sum 2 OF 2 FIG. 5.

FIG. 7.

INVENTOR. MoeT/MEe 402552,

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TETHERED PINSETTER DEVICE FOR TOY BOWLING GAMES The present invention relates to a game apparatus such as a bowling game and more particularly to apparatus for setting up the individual pins used in the bowling game.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a bowling game and more particularly a pinsetter for a toy bowling game in which the device is portable, collapsible, of simple construction, has great flexibility and is inexpensive in the construction thereof, and which further permits a bowling game to be played in rooms of various sizes, and even outdoors, by adults and children of varying heights and strength.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pinsetter for a toy bowling game and the like in which the pins can be easily set up as a unit or individually in a desired positron.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pinsetter device for a bowling game which permits traction-in a variety of directions, such as upwardly, downwardly and backwardly, and further permits a child of short height to operate the pin-setting mechanism, as well as a taller adult.

it is still another object of the present invention to provide a pinsetter device for toy bowling games that can be utilized by individuals of different heights and which requires no adjustment of the mechanism, no matter what the height of the individual utilizing it may be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pinsetter device for toy bowling games which eliminates the manual placement of the pins on a surface and provides a lightweight and simple structure which permits very young children to set their own pins.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pinsetting device which limits the distance that the toy pins can travel when knocked down without affecting their tendency to fall when hit by a ball or other bowling pins.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pinsetter device that collects toy bowling pins that have been knocked down by the ball or other pins and to gather the fallen pins from the playing surface prior to setting them in their desired positions.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accom panying drawings forming a part thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the pinsetter device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 when looking at it from the right side, or the direction in which a bowling ball is thrown toward the pins;

FlG. 4 is a side elevational view of the pin-setting device embodying the present invention, illustrating the pins after they have been knocked down, being raised and ready to be lowered into an upright position;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the invention shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating the flexible means attached to an individual pin.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designates a portable pin-setting device comprising a substantially flat table or top 12 having a plurality of legs 14 in each corner thereof, with the legs diverging downwardly and outwardly. The legs 14 are disposed a sufficient distance from the position of the bowling pins 16 so that they will not interfere with the playing of a bowling game. The legs 14 may be pivotably connected to the table 12 to facilitate storage.

The individual pins 16 are shaped like conventional bowling pins but are hollow and formed from plastic or other suitable material. As shown in FIG. 8, each pin 16 has a flexible member or cord 20 connected thereto by a crossbar 17 which is mounted on the end of the cord 20 for pivotal movement into side-by-side position with respect to the cord 20 to permit insertion through an opening 18 in the top of the pin 16. The upper end of each cord 20 extends through an eyelet 22 secured to the undersurface of the table or top 12, as best seen in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that each of the eyelets 22 is disposed substantially in alignment with the position of the pin when it is disposed in a triangular configuration for a conventional bowling game. Thus, it will be noted that the eyelets 22, as best seen in F IG. 1, are also disposed in a triangular configuration with the frontmost eyelet 22 disposed substantially adjacent the front edge 24 of the flat table or top 12 and the rearmost eyelets 22 disposed a substantial distance in front of the rear edge 26 of this top.

The rear edge 26 of the top is provided with a transverse, downwardly extending member 28 which terminates in a substantially horizontal member 30. The'members 28 and 30 are secured to the top in a rigid manner by any well-known means. The member 28, as best seen in FIG. 3, is provided with a plurality of transversely spaced apertures or openings 32 therein through which the flexible members 20 pass.

The flexible member 20 connected to the head pin 34 passes through the eyelet 22 of the middle pin of the third row, namely pin 36, as well as its own eyelet.

Also, the flexible members 20 for the second row of pins, behind the pin 34, are also threaded through the eyelets of the fourth row of pins, as best seen in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the flexible members 22 of the two middle pins in the fourth row, and the flexible members 20 of the two pins in the second row, namely pins 40, and the flexible member 20 of the front pin 34, and the pin 36, pass through the same openings 32 in the member 28. Thus with respect to these pins, the flexible members are fed or threaded in pairs through a single aperture 32.

The extreme rear ends of the flexible members 20 have knobs or handles 42 secured thereto and extend through a plurality of apertures oropenings in a freely movable transverse member 46 disposed on the horizontal member 30. The knobs 42 prevent the flexible members 20 from being pulled through the apertures in the transverse member 46. The member 46 is provided with two spacer members 48, as best seen in FIG. 1, so as to keep the member 46 spaced from the member 28 or from the horizontal member 30 on which member 46 may rest. lf desired, all of the individual flexible members 20 may have a separate opening 32 through the member 28, and may also have a separate aperture or opening through the freely movable transverse member 46.

The eyelets 22 and the apertures in the member 28 and the apertures in the freely movable transverse member 46 are in substantial alignment with each other, so that the pins 16 may be easily set in proper position.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that there is shown therein in dotted lines a bowling ball 50, which is bowled or thrown at the pins 16. After the bowling ball knocks down a number of the pins, the pins may be removed from the surface, so another bowling ball can be thrown, by lifting the knockeddown pins, as best seen in FIG. 2, on top of the table 12. Thereafter, after the second ball is thrown, or the bowler has finished his turn, handles 47 on the movable member 46 are grasped and the member 46 is pulled away from the table in substantially any direction, such as rearwardly, upwardly, downwardly, or to either side, as best seen in FIG. 4, to lift the pins from the surface. The flexible members 20 are pulled collectively until they are taut and until the pins 16 are raised up near the top 12. After the pins 16 have stopped swinging, the freely movable member 46 is moved toward the table so the pins are lowered to an erect position. When necessary, the pins may be moved individually by pulling the knob 42 of the flexible element connected to the selected pin.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, this pinsetter device is provided with a different structure for setting the pins in an upright position.

In this embodiment of the invention, the table [2 is provided with a plurality of apertures or openings therein and each opening is provided with an elongated eyelet or sleeve 52 extending through the opening in the table 12, and secured thereto by two threaded nuts 54.

The top or table 12 is provided with a transversely extending triangular flat member 56 thereon, having three spacer members 58 secured to the bottom thereof and two handle members 60 secured to the top thereof. The triangular member 56 is provided with apertures or openings therein in alignment with the openings in the table 12, through which the flexible members are threaded, after the flexible members 20 are first threaded through their individual sleeves 52, as best seen in FIG. 8. The handle or knob 42 on the upper ends of the flexible cable or member 20 id disposed on top of the triangular member 56 so as to prevent the flexible member from passing downwardly therethrough.

In using this modification of the invention, after the bowler has knocked the pins down, the triangular member 56 is grasped by the handles 60 and the member 56 is moved upwardly and away from the top 12 in any direction until the pins 16 have their upper ends disposed adjacent the lower end of the sleeves 52, after which the pins are lowered slowly until they are disposed in an upright position. The tubes or sleeves 52, of course, are disposed in substantial alignment with the openings in the triangular member 56 and in substantial vertical alignment with the position below the table at which the pins are to be disposed.

Thus, from the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention provides a novel, simple, and flexible, yet sturdy, construction of a pin-setting device for use with a toy bowling game which can be used on any selected horizontal surface in rooms of various sizes or outdoors, and by adults or children ofvarying heights and strength.

Inasmuch as various changes may be made in the form and arrangement and relative location of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is not meant to limit the invention except by the appended claims:

What I claim is:

l. A freely portable pinsetter device for use with a toy bowling game comprising a generally rectangular horizontal table, a plurality of legs secured to said table and depending therefrom and adapted to rest on a horizontal surface supporting said table in substantially spaced relation above said horizontal surface, a plurality of bowling pins adapted for positioning on said horizontal surface beneath said table, an eyelet secured in depending relation to the underside of said table in vertically aligned relation with each of said bowling pins, a transverse downwardly extending member rigidly secured to the rear edge of said table, said transverse member having a plurality of longitudinally extending apertures extending therethrough in longitudinally aligned relation with said eyelets, a transversely extending horizontal member secured to said first-named member and extending rearwardly therefrom, a freely movable transversely extending operating member supported on said horizontal member and having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the apertures in said first-named member, and a plurality of flexible elements each having one end connected to one of said pins and the other end loosely threaded through the apertures in said first-named member and the apertures in said operating member with the central portion of said flexible elements extending through at least one of said eyelets whereby said flexible elements may be moved collectively to move all of the pins by moving said operating member substantially in any direction away from said table, and may be individually hand moved to move a single pin.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said legs are foldable into engagement with said table.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first-named member is a generally rectangular flat panel.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said horizontal member is a generally rectangular flat panel. 

1. A freely portable pinsetter device for use with a toy bowling game comprising a generally rectangular horizontal table, a plurality of legs secured to said table and depending therefrom and adapted to rest on a horizontal surface supporting said table in substantially spaced relation above said horizontal surface, a plurality of bowling pins adapted for positioning on said horizontal surface beneath said table, an eyelet secured in depending relation to the underside of said table in vertically aligned relation with each of said bowling pins, a transverse downwardly extending member rigidly secured to thE rear edge of said table, said transverse member having a plurality of longitudinally extending apertures extending therethrough in longitudinally aligned relation with said eyelets, a transversely extending horizontal member secured to said first-named member and extending rearwardly therefrom, a freely movable transversely extending operating member supported on said horizontal member and having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the apertures in said first-named member, and a plurality of flexible elements each having one end connected to one of said pins and the other end loosely threaded through the apertures in said first-named member and the apertures in said operating member with the central portion of said flexible elements extending through at least one of said eyelets whereby said flexible elements may be moved collectively to move all of the pins by moving said operating member substantially in any direction away from said table, and may be individually hand moved to move a single pin.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said legs are foldable into engagement with said table.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first-named member is a generally rectangular flat panel.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said horizontal member is a generally rectangular flat panel. 